Parables Part 13 – Let’s Go Fishing
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:47-50
As we continue through the parables we find this little gem that tells us about the end of the age. We have talked a lot about salvation and being fruitful, ultimately this parable is about the first, it is about being saved. The Kingdom of Heaven here is compared to a fishing net that is cast and gathers fish of every kind until it is full. When the net is finally pulled in the good were gathered and the bad cast away. When we are gathered the same thing will happen, the wicked will be separated from the just and the wicked are cast into the fire where they will be eternally separated from God and punished. So let’s look at this a little deeper.
In this parable Jesus talks about the net being full. Romans 11:25 talks about the fullness of the gentiles coming in which is a reference to the church being complete. God has in mind a number of people who will get saved through faith in Jesus Christ. We don’t know what that number is but when it happens, when the church is complete, God will gather us to Himself via the rapture of the church and the tribulation will begin. What do we are can we do about it? 2 Peter 3:12 says we are to be, “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” What does this mean? It means we are constantly ready and looking for Jesus to come get us, and we hasten that day through sharing the gospel of grace with others. How amazing would it be to share the gospel with someone, they come to faith in Christ, and that person is the last one God is waiting for and the trumpet sounds and we head home!
Then there is the issue of the wicked and the just. Well, there is only one way to be just (Read Romans 3), that is through faith in Jesus Christ. We come to Him in faith, repenting of our sins, and trusting Him for our salvation. When we do this we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ and we are forgiven, adopted as His children and saved. Those of us who have placed our faith in Christ are justified before God and when that day comes we will be gathered into vessels, which I take to mean our new and eternal bodies in God’s presence, and the wicked are cast into the furnace of fire. I know this doesn’t sound pleasant but that is because it’s not. For the person who rejects Christ’s offer of salvation an eternity of torment separated from God awaits. God has done everything that can be done in order to save us from this fate, He sent His only Son Jesus to take our sin on the cross, He rose from the grave proving He is God and that He conquered sin and death and all we do is believe in Him to be saved. God does not want anyone to go to eternal punishment but offers every one of us eternal life through Jesus. I pray you would accept that gift today!
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